The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 3

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 5

    BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo

  • 7

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 9

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 11

    Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion

  • 13

    Top court upholds life sentence for woman over drowning husband for insurance money

  • 15

    S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China

  • 17

    COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022

  • 19

    KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe

  • 2

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 4

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 6

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 8

    Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China

  • 10

    Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea

  • 12

    Yoon says arms deal between N. Korea, Russia would be 'direct provocation' against S. Korea

  • 14

    US striving to stop NK's potential weapons support to Russia 'wherever we can': Blinken

  • 16

    Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany

  • 18

    Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25

  • 20

    Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
Sat, September 23, 2023 | 23:26
Qatar 2022
Bento reflects on relationship with fans built on 'mutual respect'
Posted : 2022-11-28 09:01
Updated : 2022-11-28 09:01
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Korea's head coach Paulo Bento speaks as Hwang In-beom listens on during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center on the eve of the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Ghana in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 27. AP-Yonhap
Korea's head coach Paulo Bento speaks as Hwang In-beom listens on during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center on the eve of the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Ghana in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 27. AP-Yonhap

Having been in charge for a little over four years, Paulo Bento is the longest-serving head coach of the South Korean men's national football team. The journey has not been without some rocky moments, but through thick and thin, the Portuguese tactician has led his adopted country to their 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance.

On Sunday, the eve of the Taegeuk Warriors' second Group H match against Ghana in Qatar, Bento took a moment to reflect on his relationship with South Korean supporters.

"My relationship with the fans over the last four years has been very good with mutual respect," Bento said through an interpreter during the prematch press conference at the Main Media Centre in Al Rayyan, just west of Doha. "I've been well treated and respected by the Korean people. We're now in a very important tournament, and everyone likes to give opinions. That's part of football."

Bento, who can come off as gruff and stubborn, hasn't exactly endeared himself to the Korean public, though the sense of respect, however grudging, has been palpable from fans. That's especially the case after South Korea, sticking to the typical Bento style of possession-based football, held favored Uruguay to a goalless draw to start this year's World Cup last Thursday.

Korea's head coach Paulo Bento speaks as Hwang In-beom listens on during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center on the eve of the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Ghana in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 27. AP-Yonhap
Korea's head coach Paulo Bento looks at the players during a training session at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 25. AP-Yonhap

Bento, clearly aware of criticism he has faced over the years, has taken it all in stride.

Thin Korean defense in trouble if injured Kim Min-jae can't play
Thin Korean defense in trouble if injured Kim Min-jae can't play
2022-11-28 08:58

"We're in a country in which football is not the most important sport. At the same time, I think the Korean national team has a high level of importance for its population," Bento said, referring to baseball being the top sport in the country. "The objective is to make them proud of our work."

One thorny issue that often comes up in Bento's press conferences or media availabilities is what he perceives as South Korean fans' interest in individual players rather than in team effort. He typically avoids discussing merits of individual players and, in an almost patronizing way, makes references to how the way South Korean fans follow their national team goes against the way he wants to run the team.

"Sometimes, they focus more on individuals than on the collective. But that's part of their culture," Bento said. "As head coach, I need to focus on the collective. So far, we've had good results based on the collective."
At the heart of this "team vs. individual" debate has been the running feud between Bento and the fan base over the coach's refusal to call up or play midfielder Lee Kang-in.

Lee, 21, has been one of South Korea's most popular football players for years. He was named the best player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019, after leading South Korea to second place at age 18. Fans quickly began clamoring for more opportunities for Lee on the senior national team, but after playing Lee in March 2021, Bento didn't use him again until last Thursday against Uruguay, bringing Lee off the bench to spark the stagnant offense.

Bento did call up the RCD Mallorca midfielder for two friendly matches in September but didn't play him. And after the end of the second match in Seoul, tens of thousands of fans booed Bento ― a highly unusual turn of events for an otherwise polite group.

After the Uruguay match, Bento was asked about his decision to play Lee. He praised Lee for earning his way into the match with a strong training camp in Qatar and said, with his speed and skills, Lee offered things that other players didn't.

Bento saved one last jab.

"I hope that, after all the criticism I got for not fielding him, there's nothing to complain about," Bento said. (Yonhap)




 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
2Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
3Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday
4Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales
5Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech
6Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry
7Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI
8Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater
9'Songpyeon' for low-income families 'Songpyeon' for low-income families
10Big insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterested Big insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterested
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
2[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
3Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
4[INTERVIEW] Seoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea INTERVIEWSeoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea
5[INTERVIEW] 'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema INTERVIEW'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group